SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
September 17, 2001

NEW RESOURCES ON TERRORISM

NEW RESOURCES ON TERRORISM

Usama bin Laden is estimated to have about $300 million in personal financial assets with which he funds his Al Qaida network of as many as 3,000 Islamic militants, according to a report published last week by the Congressional Research Service.

The CRS report, which is based on open sources, is entitled "Terrorism: Near Eastern Groups and State Sponsors, 2001." It was authored by CRS analyst Kenneth Katzman and is dated September 10. A copy is available here:

In 1999, President Clinton found that by harboring Usama bin Laden, the Taliban of Afghanistan constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States. He declared a national emergency in response. See Executive Order 13129: